Booth, Brian Geddes 75 May 30, 1936 March 07, 2012 Brian Booth, attorney, cultural activist, and Oregon Renaissance Man, died at home of cancer on March 7. Brian was a quiet force for what he called, "All things Oregon." He headed the boards of five statewide organizations: Oregon Parks Commission, Oregon Institute of Literary Arts, Portland Art Museum, Oregon Health & Science University Foundation and University of Oregon Art Museum. A fourth generation Oregonian born and raised in Roseburg, he always had a great pride and love for his hometown. Brian attended the University of Oregon where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa. Among other accomplishments at the UO, he wrote a satirical column, "The Skeptic Tank" for the Oregon Daily Emerald and helped found the Northwest Review. Following a stint in the Army, he earned his Juris Doctorate from Stanford Law School in 1962. Brian returned to Oregon to begin a career as a corporate lawyer, specializing in securities law. He was a founding partner of Tonkon, Torp, Galen, Marmaduke and Booth. In 1983 Brian was selected for inclusion in the first edition of "Best Lawyers in America"; he has appeared in every edition since. Brian represented some of Oregon's most prominent companies. When Nike was ready to go public in 1982, Phil Knight called Brian. "He was the best securities lawyer in the state of Oregon...the obvious choice." For 30 years, he monitored the firm's work for Nike, assisted countless nonprofits, and mentored the next generation of young attorneys. Brian's civic leadership was evident early on when he served as president of the Board of the Portland Art Museum in the late 1970s. With his help, the Museum became financially viable, began to serve a broader public and bought and saved the great Gilkey Print Collection for future generations. Under his leadership, the Museum would also acquire the Northwest Film Study Center. The Korean Gallery, part of the Crumpacker Asian Wing, is named in honor of Brian and Gwyneth Booth. In 1989 Governor Neil Goldschmidt appointed Brian first chair of the Oregon Parks Commission where he served three governors. Brian led efforts to obtain adequate funding to keep beaches public and to save and expand the parks system. Most recently Brian championed Measure 76 which amended the Oregon Constitution to continue to allow fifteen percent of the revenues from the State Lottery to be used for parks, beaches, wildlife habitat and watershed protection. He co-founded the Oregon State Parks Trust. Brian loved walking his Scottish Terrier, Haley Brae, on the beach at Neskowin on the north central Oregon coast. There he and Gwyneth built a beach home on property owned by Brian. Fourth of July celebrations often found the Booths participating in the annual Neskowin parade. Books were always an integral part of Brian's life. His high regard for writers influenced his founding of the Oregon Institute of Literary Arts. OILA, later to be called Literary Arts, Inc., established the Oregon Book Awards and Oregon Literary Fellowships. At home Brian loved reading in his den surrounded by books mostly by Oregon authors or about Oregon history. He could multi-task in his den as well. Simultaneously he could watch OPB's NewsHour, peruse the paper, listen to jazz on KMHD, and carry on stimulating conversations. Brian co-founded the Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission, which celebrates the state's diverse literary and cultural legacy through public events, memorials and publications. Brian edited "Wildmen, Wobblies, and Whistle Punks: Stewart Holbrook's Lowbrow Northwest" in 1992. He'd remind us with a smile that Portland Magazine deemed it "One of the 20 greatest Oregon books ever" while The Oregonian named it one of the top ten history books. His publication of "Davis Country: H.L. Davis's Northwest" with co-editor Glen Love in 2009 revived another quintessential Oregon author. In 1996 Brian received the Stewart H. Holbrook Award from Literary Arts for outstanding contributions to Oregon's literary life. His love for libraries led to a decade of service and vice chair of the Multnomah Library Foundation Board of Trustees. The late historian Terence O'Donnell said, "Booth has probably done more for Oregon writers than anyone in the state's history. He is Oregon's preeminent Man of the Book." In 1997, Brian and his wife, Gwyneth Gamble Booth, received the Tom McCall Leadership Award for contributions to Oregon's quality of life. The next year they were named First Citizens of Portland. In 2004, both were honored by Friends of the Performing Arts Center with granite stars on SW Main Street for their community leadership. Brian's star reads "Champion for Oregon Parks, Art and Literature." An abiding interest for Brian for more than 28 years has been Oregon Health Sciences University. He led the team which made OHSU a public corporation. In 2008 Brian saw the fruition of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute thanks to the incredible generosity of his client and close friend, Phil Knight, and the leadership of Gleevec founder, Dr. Brian Druker. The Booth family has a motto: "Keep active, keep learning, try to create - and don't forget a little nonsense now and then." Brian thrived on nonsense. Whether entertaining with Gwyneth around their dining table, relaxing in a booth at the Goose Hollow Inn, or serving as an irreverent emcee, his legendary wit and playful sense of fun shined. Brian brought the same enthusiasm, curiosity, and kind-heartedness to all other aspects of his life: traveling to Tuscany, Paris,and the American South with his beloved wife Gwyneth; sharing and encouraging his love of books with his kids and grandchildren; striking up conversations with everyone he met; slaying tennis opponents with his wicked cross-court forehand; feeding the birds and thwarting the squirrels in his backyard. In all these endeavors and more, Brian was a gentle giant. Brian is survived by his wife of 27 years, Gwyneth Gamble Booth; son, Tom Booth (Megan Holden); daughter Jennifer Booth; stepsons, Ted R. Gamble and Brian Gamble; stepdaughter, Elizabeth Gamble Caldwell (Kenneth); eight grandchildren; sister, Harriet Scofield (Charles); ex-wife Anne Booth; along with many Booth and Geddes relatives. He will be enormously missed. A celebration of life service will be held April 12, at the First Congregational Church, 1126 SW Park Avenue, Portland at 4 p.m. followed by a reception in the Kridel Ballroom in the Mark Building of the Portland Art Museum, directly across the park blocks from the church. Remembrances in Brian's honor may be made to: OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Development Office Mail code: CR 145 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd. Portland, OR 97239-3098 Literary Arts Inc. 925 SW Washington St. Portland, OR 97205 Oregon State Parks Trust 888 SW Fifth Ave. Suite 1600 Portland, OR 97204 Portland Japanese Garden PO Box 3847 Portland, OR 97208
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